System for content curation with user context and content leverage

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method comprising receiving one or more media content items; creating one or more leveraged content items from the media content item(s) by extracting one or more leverage points from the media content item(s); obtaining user information, such as user preferences and user context; selecting a selected content item from the leveraged content item(s) based on the user information; creating a custom content item by further extracting a subset of the leverage points from the selected content item based on the user information; and presenting the custom content item to the user&#39;s equipment. Other embodiments are disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/214,292 filed on Dec. 10, 2018. All sections of the aforementionedapplication are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The subject disclosure relates to a system for content curation withuser context and content leverage.

BACKGROUND

The availability of media content, such as videos, is exploding. So muchso that viewers cannot watch it all. Thus, methods for identifying mediacontent that may be of particular interest to a user are beingdeveloped.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are notnecessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method in accordance withvarious aspects described herein.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a system in accordance with various aspects describedherein.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary, non-limitingembodiment of a communications network in accordance with variousaspects described herein.

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method in accordance withvarious aspects described herein.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a virtualized communication network in accordance withvarious aspects described herein.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of acomputing environment in accordance with various aspects describedherein.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of amobile network platform in accordance with various aspects describedherein.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of acommunication device in accordance with various aspects describedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject disclosure describes, among other things, illustrativeembodiments for providing customized content to users. Other embodimentsare described in the subject disclosure.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a methodcomprising receiving one or more media content items; creating one ormore leveraged content items from the media content item(s) byextracting one or more leverage points from the media content item(s);obtaining user information, such as user preferences and user context;selecting a selected content item from the leveraged content item(s)based on the user information; creating a custom content item by furtherextracting a subset of the leverage points from the selected contentitem based on the user information; and presenting the custom contentitem to the user's equipment.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a systemcomprising a processor; and a memory storing executable instructionsthat, when executed by the processor, perform operations comprising:obtaining a plurality of media content items; obtaining user informationrelated to a user, wherein the user information comprises userpreferences and user context; creating a plurality of leveraged contentitems from the plurality of media content items by extracting aplurality of leverage points from the plurality of media content itemsaccording to the user information; selecting a subset of the pluralityof leveraged content items based on the user information; presenting, toequipment of the user, an identification of the subset of the pluralityof leveraged content items; receiving, from the equipment of the user,an indication of a selected content item of the subset of the pluralityof leveraged content items; creating a custom content item by furtherextracting a subset of the plurality of leverage points from theselected content item based on the user information; and presenting thecustom content item to the equipment of the user.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a non-transitorymachine-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that,when executed by a processing system including a processor, performoperations comprising obtaining a plurality of media content items;obtaining user information related to a user, wherein the userinformation comprises user preferences and user context; creating aplurality of leveraged content items from the plurality of media contentitems by extracting a plurality of leverage points from the plurality ofmedia content items; selecting a subset of the plurality of leveragedcontent items based on the user information; presenting, to equipment ofthe user, an identification of the subset of the plurality of leveragedcontent items; receiving, from the equipment of the user, an indicationof a selected content item of the subset of the plurality of leveragedcontent items; creating a custom content item by further extracting asubset of the plurality of leverage points from the selected contentitem based on the user information; and presenting the custom contentitem to the equipment of the user.

In any case, each leveraged content item may correspond to one of themedia content items. The leverage points may be identified as points ofexcitement within the media content item(s) based on previous use of themedia content items, or portions thereof. A consumption of the user ofthe custom content item may be monitored and the leveraged contentitem(s) and/or custom content item(s) may be revised based thereon. Themedia content items may be sporting events and the leverage point(s) maybe identified as points within each sporting event that impacts theoutcome of the sporting event. The leverage points may be identified aspoints within each media content item(s) based on feedback from previousviewers of the media content item(s).

The user context may include a location of the user. In this case, afirst number of leverage points may be used in the custom content whenthe user is at home, a second number of leverage points may be used whenthe user is away from home, with the first number being greater than thesecond number, such that the custom content item is longer when the useris at home versus when the user is away from home. Numbers of leveragepoints, and thus length of the custom content, and/or specific leveragepoints may be based on other locations as well, such as at work, homesof friends or family, as well as other locations.

The user context may include an identification of the user's equipment.In this case a first number of leverage points may be used in the customcontent when the user's equipment is mobile, a second number of leveragepoints may be used when the user's equipment is not mobile, with thefirst number being less than the second number, such that the customcontent item is shorter when the user's equipment is mobile versus whenthe user's equipment is not mobile.

The user context may include an activity of the user. In this case afirst number of leverage points may be used in the custom content whenthe user is moving, a second number of leverage points may be used whenthe user is stationary, with the first number being less than the secondnumber, such that the custom content item is shorter when the user ismoving versus when the user is stationary.

Selecting and/or recommending content may or may not be based on userinput. For example, a group or subset of leveraged content items may bepresented to the user. This group may be chosen based on the userinformation. The user may then provide input indicating a selection fromthat group or subset.

As content availability explodes and semi-automated methods forannotation are developed, the capability to personalize and curatecontent for individual users gains importance. For example, systemsmonitoring viewership and consumption of content streams may beleveraged in aggregate to determine not only recommendations butinterest points within content. Additionally, content analysis tools,may allow automated tagging of content by object, scene, and action suchthat these metadata descriptions can also augment user preferences.Finally, the context of users, which is often neglected inrecommendations, is also increasingly important and may be used to facetrecommendation and personalization platforms.

In at least one embodiment, we propose a system and/or method thatcombines user-specific data (such as consumption, context, and/orpreferences) with automatically generated data (like objects, scenes,and activity of content and content-based “excitement” assessments) intoa system/method for curation and recommendation. At least one embodimentseeks to create meaningful video summarization for users based onleverage points (excitement, tension, and high interest discovery fromcontent) in content. At least one embodiment seeks to createcontextualized, curated video segments based on preference andconsumption; consider importance of individual segments based onfine-grained salience and consumption instead of recommendation as awhole. At least one embodiment seeks to fuse users' and externalfeedback from value assignment systems (e.g. leverage, interest point,tension, excitement, domain excitement points) to improve the videocuration automatically using machine learning algorithms. Feedback,implicit and/or explicit, from viewership (such as user “comeback”behaviors) may be used to assist such machine learning.

In some embodiments, the proposed system/method seeks to provide userswith an enhanced video consumption experience by only presenting thesalient/exciting moments embedded in the original video content. In someembodiments, the proposed system/method seeks to save customers time toconsume content since less important or relevant content is filteredout. In some embodiments, the proposed system/method seeks to inserttargeted advertisements in the curated videos for the customers. In someembodiments, the proposed system/method seeks to provide a value addedservice for existing content, since users are more likely to go througha short yet personalized summarization instead of spending hours viewingthe original videos (eg. recorded games). In some embodiments, userfeedback and/or user profiles can be used to help video generation,selection, and/or recommendation. In some embodiments, the proposedsystem/method seeks to generate a tension/excitement prediction modelfrom historical viewership and active feedback from users thatincorporates a curation scoring mechanism.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method in accordance withvarious aspects described herein. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustratingan example, non-limiting embodiment of a system in accordance withvarious aspects described herein. Referring to both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, asystem performing a method according to at least one embodimentdescribed herein begins analysis of incoming content. As shown at 1.1,the system detects interesting segments, such as leverage points, withinmedia content. This may be done using external information, such assupplied metadata, and/or internal analysis performed by the system or acomponent thereof. In some embodiments, the system may accumulatereal-time, or near real-time, social responses for content for thisuser, group of users, or similarly situated users, as shown at 1.2. Thismay account for user context, as shown at 1.3.

As shown at 2.1, the system edits the content (or creates leveragedcontent) to highlight the interesting segments (or leverage points) foravailable time, user interest or preferences, and user context-specificinformation. The content may be repurposed for specific user context(s),such as consumption at home, on vacation, commuting, using a mobiledevice, using a TV or other large (not traditionally mobile) device.Specific triggering event(s) may be realized with visual/textualhighlighting for navigation through content. Advertising appropriate tothe user context may be inserted at opportune times within the datastream.

As shown at 2.2, system models may be updated through machine learning.For example, system models may be updated with historical examples. Morespecifically, system models that identify, or predict, leverage pointsmay be updated based on prediction error, such as through refinementbased on feedback, such as user and/or social interaction, tension,and/or excitement. Such feedback may be implicit, such as skipping orotherwise avoiding portions of the content, or explicit, such asclicking a like button or otherwise providing positive/negativeratings/recommendations.

As shown at 2.3, a user's profile and/or preferences may be updatedbased on their interaction with content. Leveraged content may also bemodified based on user interaction. As shown at 2.4, by monitoring auser's interaction with leverage content, the system may gain real-timeindications of user preferences, in addition to improvements to modelsused to identify/extract leverage points from content. As shown at 2.5,sharing content with other users may imply both a preference for that(and/or similar) content as well as a preference for similar leveragepoints within such content.

Using such modelling to extract leverage points from content, a user maybe presented with leveraged content which contains only the mostinteresting/exciting events (leverage points). Users may tag and/orshare portions of such leveraged content, which may be used to refinethe modelling. Multiple versions of a content item may be created andstored, specific to specific users and/or user context(s).

As shown at 4, the system may perform post-hoc analysis of behavior ofusers/viewers. For example, user consumption may be analyzed to updatecomeback predictions (i.e. predictions of when/where {at what point}users/viewers will come back {return/re-tune} to a content item). Asshown at 4.2, such feedback may also be collected through explicitindicators and consumption patterns. As shown at 4.3, the system maymonitor a user's ad avoidance/completion habits and update that user'sprofile/preferences accordingly. The system may also update modellingthat makes recommendation and/or leverage point decisions for that user,based on their consumption patterns, including ad avoidance/completionhabits. The system may also update modelling that makesrecommendations/associations of additional content and/or services basedon their consumption patterns.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram is shown illustrating anexample, non-limiting embodiment of a communications network 100 inaccordance with various aspects described herein. For example,communications network 100 can facilitate in whole or in part providingcustomized content to users as described herein. In particular, acommunications network 125 is presented for providing broadband access110 to a plurality of data terminals 114 via access terminal 112,wireless access 120 to a plurality of mobile devices 124 and vehicle 126via base station or access point 122, voice access 130 to a plurality oftelephony devices 134, via switching device 132 and/or media access 140to a plurality of audio/video display devices 144 via media terminal142. In addition, communication network 125 is coupled to one or morecontent sources 175 of audio, video, graphics, text and/or other media.While broadband access 110, wireless access 120, voice access 130 andmedia access 140 are shown separately, one or more of these forms ofaccess can be combined to provide multiple access services to a singleclient device (e.g., mobile devices 124 can receive media content viamedia terminal 142, data terminal 114 can be provided voice access viaswitching device 132, and so on).

The communications network 125 includes a plurality of network elements(NE) 150, 152, 154, 156, etc. for facilitating the broadband access 110,wireless access 120, voice access 130, media access 140 and/or thedistribution of content from content sources 175. The communicationsnetwork 125 can include a circuit switched or packet switched network, avoice over Internet protocol (VoIP) network, Internet protocol (IP)network, a cable network, a passive or active optical network, a 4G, 5G,or higher generation wireless access network, WIMAX network,UltraWideband network, personal area network or other wireless accessnetwork, a broadcast satellite network and/or other communicationsnetwork.

In various embodiments, the access terminal 112 can include a digitalsubscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM), cable modem terminationsystem (CMTS), optical line terminal (OLT) and/or other access terminal.The data terminals 114 can include personal computers, laptop computers,netbook computers, tablets or other computing devices along with digitalsubscriber line (DSL) modems, data over coax service interfacespecification (DOCSIS) modems or other cable modems, a wireless modemsuch as a 4G, 5G, or higher generation modem, an optical modem and/orother access devices.

In various embodiments, the base station or access point 122 can includea 4G, 5G, or higher generation base station, an access point thatoperates via an 802.11 standard such as 802.11n, 802.11ac or otherwireless access terminal. The mobile devices 124 can include mobilephones, e-readers, tablets, phablets, wireless modems, and/or othermobile computing devices.

In various embodiments, the switching device 132 can include a privatebranch exchange or central office switch, a media services gateway, VoIPgateway or other gateway device and/or other switching device. Thetelephony devices 134 can include traditional telephones (with orwithout a terminal adapter), VoIP telephones and/or other telephonydevices.

In various embodiments, the media terminal 142 can include a cablehead-end or other TV head-end, a satellite receiver, gateway or othermedia terminal 142. The display devices 144 can include televisions withor without a set top box, personal computers and/or other displaydevices.

In various embodiments, the content sources 175 include broadcasttelevision and radio sources, video on demand platforms and streamingvideo and audio services platforms, one or more content data networks,data servers, web servers and other content servers, and/or othersources of media.

In various embodiments, the communications network 125 can includewired, optical and/or wireless links and the network elements 150, 152,154, 156, etc. can include service switching points, signal transferpoints, service control points, network gateways, media distributionhubs, servers, firewalls, routers, edge devices, switches and othernetwork nodes for routing and controlling communications traffic overwired, optical and wireless links as part of the Internet and otherpublic networks as well as one or more private networks, for managingsubscriber access, for billing and network management and for supportingother network functions.

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method 200 in accordancewith various aspects described herein. The method 200 described hereinmay be performed by a processing system that resides on the network 125.For example, the method 200 described herein may be performed by one ormore of the content sources 175 and/or some other system/server. In atleast one embodiment, the method 200 begins by receiving or otherwiseobtaining media content, as shown in 202. For example, the system mayobtain one or more media content items, such as from one or more of thecontent sources 175.

As shown in 204, the method 200 may include receiving or otherwiseobtaining user information. Such user information may include a userprofile, user preferences, user demographics, and/or user contextinformation. Examples of user context information includes a location ofthe user, equipment of the user, and/or an activity of the user. Forexample, the user context may indicate whether the user is at home, onvacation, commuting, or otherwise travelling. The user context mayindicate what sort of equipment the user is using, such as whether theyare using one of the mobile devices 124 or equipment mounted in thevehicle 126. Other equipment the user may utilize includes fixed (notmobile) equipment such as a television or other display device 144,desktop computer or other data terminal 114.

As shown in 206, the method 200 may include creating one or moreleveraged content items from the media content item(s). Creatingleveraged content items may occur before or after obtaining the userinformation. Where creating leveraged content items occur afterobtaining the user information, the user information may be utilized increating the leveraged content items. For example, leveraged contentitems may be created from the media content items specific to one ormore users according to the user information. In any case leveragedcontent items may be created from the media content items by extractingone or more leverage points from the media content items.

Leverage points, as used herein, include points of excitement withineach media content item. For example, wherein a media content item is asporting event, a leverage point may be any point that impacts theoutcome of the sporting event, such as a scoring play or a defensivestand, or otherwise generates (or is predicted to generate) excitementin viewers. These leverage points (or points of excitement) may be basedon previous use/consumption of the media content item, or portionsthereof. For example, a leverage point may be any point that is thesubject of feedback from previous viewers of the media content item.

In at least one embodiment, each leveraged content item corresponds toone, and only one, of the media content items. In at least oneembodiment, each leveraged content item corresponds to multiple mediacontent items. For example, one leveraged content item may includeleverage points from multiple media content items. As an example, aleveraged content item may include leverage points from multiple games,such as featuring a user's favorite team(s) and/or player(s). In atleast one embodiment, multiple leveraged content items may correspond toone of the media content items. For example, one of the media contentitems may have multiple corresponding leveraged content items, with eachfor a different user and or user context.

As shown in 208, the method 200 may include selecting one or more of theleveraged content items. For example, the system may select one or moreof the leveraged content items, based on the user information withoutrequiring any user input. In at least one embodiment, however, thesystem selects a group or subset of the leveraged content items based onthe user information and presents the user with that group or subset, ormerely information identifying the group or subset and/or each leveragedcontent item within the group or subset. In this case, the system mayawait an indication or other input from the indicating a selection ofone or more leveraged content item(s) from the group or subset ofleveraged content items.

In any case, once one or more of the leveraged content items has beenselected that (or those) selected items may be customized for the userbased on the user information, as shown in 210. For example, a systemperforming the method 200 may further extract a subset of leveragepoints from the selected content item based on the user information.Such further extraction may be based, for example, on the user contextinformation. As one example, this custom content item may include more(or less) of the leverage points, and thus be longer (or shorter), whenthe user is at home (or some other location) versus when the user isaway from home, such as at work, on vacation, or otherwise travelling.As another example, this custom content item may include fewer (or more)of the leverage points, and thus be shorter (or longer), when the userequipment is one of the mobile devices 124 or mounted in the vehicle 126versus when the user equipment is not mobile, such as a television orother display device 144, desktop computer or other data terminal 114.As yet another example, this custom content item may include fewer (ormore) of the leverage points, and thus be shorter (or longer), when theuser is travelling, commuting, or otherwise moving versus when the useris stationary. In any case, the length of the custom content and/ornumber of leverage points may be based on the user context, includinglocation and/or activity, etc.

In at least one embodiment, the leverage points themselves are chosenbased on the user context information. For example, if the user ismobile, the leverage points may only include only scoring plays, orplays involving a specific player. As another example, if the userequipment is a mobile device and the user is moving, the leverage pointsmay only include only scoring plays. As another example, if the userequipment is a mobile device and the user is on a bus, the leveragepoints may only include scoring plays and important defensive plays. Asanother example, if the user equipment is a mobile device and the useris in a fan club, the leverage points may only include plays involving aparticular player.

As shown in 212, the method 200 may include presenting the customcontent item to the user's equipment, be it the mobile device 124, thevehicle 126, a television or other display device 144, desktop computeror other data terminal 114, etc.

As shown in 214, the method 200 may include monitoring the user'sconsumption of the customized content. By monitoring the user'sconsumption of the customized content, a system performing the method200 may validate, update, revise, or otherwise improve the leveragedcontent items and/or customized content items. Furthermore, a systemperforming the method 200 may validate, update, revise, or otherwiseimprove the user information and/or selections or recommendations of theleveraged content items. A system performing the method 200 may alsovalidate, update, revise, or otherwise improve the modelling, decisionmaking, and/or other processes that go into identifying/extracting theleverage points and/or making selections or recommendations.

A system performing the method 200 may also gather feedback from thisand/or other users. Such feedback may be implicit, such as that gatheredthrough the monitoring discussed above, or explicit, such as throughclicking a like button or sharing content. Such feedback may also beused to validate, update, revise, or otherwise improve the leveragedcontent items, customized content items, the user information,selections or recommendations of the leveraged content items, themodelling, decision making, and/or other processes that go intoidentifying/extracting the leverage points and/or making selections orrecommendations.

While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the respectiveprocesses are shown and described as a series of blocks in FIG. 4, it isto be understood and appreciated that the claimed subject matter is notlimited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks may occur indifferent orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from what isdepicted and described herein. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks maybe required to implement the methods described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a block diagram 300 is shown illustrating anexample, non-limiting embodiment of a virtualized communication networkin accordance with various aspects described herein. In particular avirtualized communication network is presented that can be used toimplement some or all of the subsystems and functions of communicationnetwork 100, method 200, and subsystems and functions of a systemperforming the method 200 presented in FIGS. 1-4. For example,virtualized communication network 300 can facilitate in whole or in partproviding customized content to users as described herein.

In particular, a cloud networking architecture is shown that leveragescloud technologies and supports rapid innovation and scalability via atransport layer 350, a virtualized network function cloud 325 and/or oneor more cloud computing environments 375. In various embodiments, thiscloud networking architecture is an open architecture that leveragesapplication programming interfaces (APIs); reduces complexity fromservices and operations; supports more nimble business models; andrapidly and seamlessly scales to meet evolving customer requirementsincluding traffic growth, diversity of traffic types, and diversity ofperformance and reliability expectations.

In contrast to traditional network elements—which are typicallyintegrated to perform a single function, the virtualized communicationnetwork employs virtual network elements (VNEs) 330, 332, 334, etc. thatperform some or all of the functions of network elements 150, 152, 154,156, etc. For example, the network architecture can provide a substrateof networking capability, often called Network Function VirtualizationInfrastructure (NFVI) or simply infrastructure that is capable of beingdirected with software and Software Defined Networking (SDN) protocolsto perform a broad variety of network functions and services. Thisinfrastructure can include several types of substrates. The most typicaltype of substrate being servers that support Network FunctionVirtualization (NFV), followed by packet forwarding capabilities basedon generic computing resources, with specialized network technologiesbrought to bear when general purpose processors or general purposeintegrated circuit devices offered by merchants (referred to herein asmerchant silicon) are not appropriate. In this case, communicationservices can be implemented as cloud-centric workloads.

As an example, a traditional network element 150 (shown in FIG. 3), suchas an edge router can be implemented via a VNE 330 composed of NFVsoftware modules, merchant silicon, and associated controllers. Thesoftware can be written so that increasing workload consumes incrementalresources from a common resource pool, and moreover so that it'selastic: so the resources are only consumed when needed. In a similarfashion, other network elements such as other routers, switches, edgecaches, and middle-boxes are instantiated from the common resource pool.Such sharing of infrastructure across a broad set of uses makes planningand growing infrastructure easier to manage.

In an embodiment, the transport layer 350 includes fiber, cable, wiredand/or wireless transport elements, network elements and interfaces toprovide broadband access 110, wireless access 120, voice access 130,media access 140 and/or access to content sources 175 for distributionof content to any or all of the access technologies. In particular, insome cases a network element needs to be positioned at a specific place,and this allows for less sharing of common infrastructure. Other times,the network elements have specific physical layer adapters that cannotbe abstracted or virtualized, and might require special DSP code andanalog front-ends (AFEs) that do not lend themselves to implementationas VNEs 330, 332 or 334. These network elements can be included intransport layer 350.

The virtualized network function cloud 325 interfaces with the transportlayer 350 to provide the VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. to provide specificNFVs. In particular, the virtualized network function cloud 325leverages cloud operations, applications, and architectures to supportnetworking workloads. The virtualized network elements 330, 332 and 334can employ network function software that provides either a one-for-onemapping of traditional network element function or alternately somecombination of network functions designed for cloud computing. Forexample, VNEs 330, 332 and 334 can include route reflectors, domain namesystem (DNS) servers, and dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP)servers, system architecture evolution (SAE) and/or mobility managemententity (MME) gateways, broadband network gateways, IP edge routers forIP-VPN, Ethernet and other services, load balancers, distributers andother network elements. Because these elements don't typically need toforward large amounts of traffic, their workload can be distributedacross a number of servers—each of which adds a portion of thecapability, and overall which creates an elastic function with higheravailability than its former monolithic version. These virtual networkelements 330, 332, 334, etc. can be instantiated and managed using anorchestration approach similar to those used in cloud compute services.

The cloud computing environments 375 can interface with the virtualizednetwork function cloud 325 via APIs that expose functional capabilitiesof the VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. to provide the flexible and expandedcapabilities to the virtualized network function cloud 325. Inparticular, network workloads may have applications distributed acrossthe virtualized network function cloud 325 and cloud computingenvironment 375 and in the commercial cloud, or might simply orchestrateworkloads supported entirely in NFV infrastructure from these thirdparty locations.

Turning now to FIG. 6, there is illustrated a block diagram of acomputing environment in accordance with various aspects describedherein. In order to provide additional context for various embodimentsof the embodiments described herein, FIG. 6 and the following discussionare intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitablecomputing environment 400 in which the various embodiments of thesubject disclosure can be implemented. In particular, computingenvironment 400 can be used in the implementation of network elements150, 152, 154, 156, access terminal 112, base station or access point122, switching device 132, media terminal 142, and/or VNEs 330, 332,334, etc. Each of these devices can be implemented viacomputer-executable instructions that can run on one or more computers,and/or in combination with other program modules and/or as a combinationof hardware and software. For example, computing environment 400 canfacilitate in whole or in part providing customized content to users asdescribed herein.

Generally, program modules comprise routines, programs, components, datastructures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the inventive methods can be practiced with other computer systemconfigurations, comprising single-processor or multiprocessor computersystems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, as well as personalcomputers, hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer electronics, and the like, each of which can beoperatively coupled to one or more associated devices.

As used herein, a processing circuit includes one or more processors aswell as other application specific circuits such as an applicationspecific integrated circuit, digital logic circuit, state machine,programmable gate array or other circuit that processes input signals ordata and that produces output signals or data in response thereto. Itshould be noted that while any functions and features described hereinin association with the operation of a processor could likewise beperformed by a processing circuit.

The illustrated embodiments of the embodiments herein can be alsopracticed in distributed computing environments where certain tasks areperformed by remote processing devices that are linked through acommunications network. In a distributed computing environment, programmodules can be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

Computing devices typically comprise a variety of media, which cancomprise computer-readable storage media and/or communications media,which two terms are used herein differently from one another as follows.Computer-readable storage media can be any available storage media thatcan be accessed by the computer and comprises both volatile andnonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example,and not limitation, computer-readable storage media can be implementedin connection with any method or technology for storage of informationsuch as computer-readable instructions, program modules, structured dataor unstructured data.

Computer-readable storage media can comprise, but are not limited to,random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electricallyerasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or othermemory technology, compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), digitalversatile disk (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes,magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devicesor other tangible and/or non-transitory media which can be used to storedesired information. In this regard, the terms “tangible” or“non-transitory” herein as applied to storage, memory orcomputer-readable media, are to be understood to exclude onlypropagating transitory signals per se as modifiers and do not relinquishrights to all standard storage, memory or computer-readable media thatare not only propagating transitory signals per se.

Computer-readable storage media can be accessed by one or more local orremote computing devices, e.g., via access requests, queries or otherdata retrieval protocols, for a variety of operations with respect tothe information stored by the medium.

Communications media typically embody computer-readable instructions,data structures, program modules or other structured or unstructureddata in a data signal such as a modulated data signal, e.g., a carrierwave or other transport mechanism, and comprises any informationdelivery or transport media. The term “modulated data signal” or signalsrefers to a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set orchanged in such a manner as to encode information in one or moresignals. By way of example, and not limitation, communication mediacomprise wired media, such as a wired network or direct-wiredconnection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and otherwireless media.

With reference again to FIG. 6, the example environment can comprise acomputer 402, the computer 402 comprising a processing unit 404, asystem memory 406 and a system bus 408. The system bus 408 couplessystem components including, but not limited to, the system memory 406to the processing unit 404. The processing unit 404 can be any ofvarious commercially available processors. Dual microprocessors andother multiprocessor architectures can also be employed as theprocessing unit 404.

The system bus 408 can be any of several types of bus structure that canfurther interconnect to a memory bus (with or without a memorycontroller), a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety ofcommercially available bus architectures. The system memory 406comprises ROM 410 and RAM 412. A basic input/output system (BIOS) can bestored in a non-volatile memory such as ROM, erasable programmable readonly memory (EPROM), EEPROM, which BIOS contains the basic routines thathelp to transfer information between elements within the computer 402,such as during startup. The RAM 412 can also comprise a high-speed RAMsuch as static RAM for caching data.

The computer 402 further comprises an internal hard disk drive (HDD) 414(e.g., EIDE, SATA), which internal HDD 414 can also be configured forexternal use in a suitable chassis (not shown), a magnetic floppy diskdrive (FDD) 416, (e.g., to read from or write to a removable diskette418) and an optical disk drive 420, (e.g., reading a CD-ROM disk 422 or,to read from or write to other high capacity optical media such as theDVD). The HDD 414, magnetic FDD 416 and optical disk drive 420 can beconnected to the system bus 408 by a hard disk drive interface 424, amagnetic disk drive interface 426 and an optical drive interface 428,respectively. The hard disk drive interface 424 for external driveimplementations comprises at least one or both of Universal Serial Bus(USB) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394interface technologies. Other external drive connection technologies arewithin contemplation of the embodiments described herein.

The drives and their associated computer-readable storage media providenonvolatile storage of data, data structures, computer-executableinstructions, and so forth. For the computer 402, the drives and storagemedia accommodate the storage of any data in a suitable digital format.Although the description of computer-readable storage media above refersto a hard disk drive (HDD), a removable magnetic diskette, and aremovable optical media such as a CD or DVD, it should be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that other types of storage media which arereadable by a computer, such as zip drives, magnetic cassettes, flashmemory cards, cartridges, and the like, can also be used in the exampleoperating environment, and further, that any such storage media cancontain computer-executable instructions for performing the methodsdescribed herein.

A number of program modules can be stored in the drives and RAM 412,comprising an operating system 430, one or more application programs432, other program modules 434 and program data 436. All or portions ofthe operating system, applications, modules, and/or data can also becached in the RAM 412. The systems and methods described herein can beimplemented utilizing various commercially available operating systemsor combinations of operating systems.

A user can enter commands and information into the computer 402 throughone or more wired/wireless input devices, e.g., a keyboard 438 and apointing device, such as a mouse 440. Other input devices (not shown)can comprise a microphone, an infrared (IR) remote control, a joystick,a game pad, a stylus pen, touch screen or the like. These and otherinput devices are often connected to the processing unit 404 through aninput device interface 442 that can be coupled to the system bus 408,but can be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, anIEEE 1394 serial port, a game port, a universal serial bus (USB) port,an IR interface, etc.

A monitor 444 or other type of display device can be also connected tothe system bus 408 via an interface, such as a video adapter 446. Itwill also be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, a monitor 444can also be any display device (e.g., another computer having a display,a smart phone, a tablet computer, etc.) for receiving displayinformation associated with computer 402 via any communication means,including via the Internet and cloud-based networks. In addition to themonitor 444, a computer typically comprises other peripheral outputdevices (not shown), such as speakers, printers, etc.

The computer 402 can operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections via wired and/or wireless communications to one or moreremote computers, such as a remote computer(s) 448. The remotecomputer(s) 448 can be a workstation, a server computer, a router, apersonal computer, portable computer, microprocessor-based entertainmentappliance, a peer device or other common network node, and typicallycomprises many or all of the elements described relative to the computer402, although, for purposes of brevity, only a remote memory/storagedevice 450 is illustrated. The logical connections depicted comprisewired/wireless connectivity to a local area network (LAN) 452 and/orlarger networks, e.g., a wide area network (WAN) 454. Such LAN and WANnetworking environments are commonplace in offices and companies, andfacilitate enterprise-wide computer networks, such as intranets, all ofwhich can connect to a global communications network, e.g., theInternet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 402 can beconnected to the LAN 452 through a wired and/or wireless communicationnetwork interface or adapter 456. The adapter 456 can facilitate wiredor wireless communication to the LAN 452, which can also comprise awireless AP disposed thereon for communicating with the adapter 456.

When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 402 can comprisea modem 458 or can be connected to a communications server on the WAN454 or has other means for establishing communications over the WAN 454,such as by way of the Internet. The modem 458, which can be internal orexternal and a wired or wireless device, can be connected to the systembus 408 via the input device interface 442. In a networked environment,program modules depicted relative to the computer 402 or portionsthereof, can be stored in the remote memory/storage device 450. It willbe appreciated that the network connections shown are example and othermeans of establishing a communications link between the computers can beused.

The computer 402 can be operable to communicate with any wirelessdevices or entities operatively disposed in wireless communication,e.g., a printer, scanner, desktop and/or portable computer, portabledata assistant, communications satellite, any piece of equipment orlocation associated with a wirelessly detectable tag (e.g., a kiosk,news stand, restroom), and telephone. This can comprise WirelessFidelity (Wi-Fi) and BLUETOOTH® wireless technologies. Thus, thecommunication can be a predefined structure as with a conventionalnetwork or simply an ad hoc communication between at least two devices.

Wi-Fi can allow connection to the Internet from a couch at home, a bedin a hotel room or a conference room at work, without wires. Wi-Fi is awireless technology similar to that used in a cell phone that enablessuch devices, e.g., computers, to send and receive data indoors and out;anywhere within the range of a base station. Wi-Fi networks use radiotechnologies called IEEE 802.11 (a, b, g, n, ac, ag, etc.) to providesecure, reliable, fast wireless connectivity. A Wi-Fi network can beused to connect computers to each other, to the Internet, and to wirednetworks (which can use IEEE 802.3 or Ethernet). Wi-Fi networks operatein the unlicensed 2.4 and 5 GHz radio bands for example or with productsthat contain both bands (dual band), so the networks can providereal-world performance similar to the basic 10BaseT wired Ethernetnetworks used in many offices.

Turning now to FIG. 7, an embodiment 500 of a mobile network platform510 is shown that is an example of network elements 150, 152, 154, 156,and/or VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. For example, platform 510 can facilitatein whole or in part providing customized content to users as describedherein. In one or more embodiments, the mobile network platform 510 cangenerate and receive signals transmitted and received by base stationsor access points such as base station or access point 122. Generally,mobile network platform 510 can comprise components, e.g., nodes,gateways, interfaces, servers, or disparate platforms, that facilitateboth packet-switched (PS) (e.g., internet protocol (IP), frame relay,asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)) and circuit-switched (CS) traffic(e.g., voice and data), as well as control generation for networkedwireless telecommunication. As a non-limiting example, mobile networkplatform 510 can be included in telecommunications carrier networks, andcan be considered carrier-side components as discussed elsewhere herein.Mobile network platform 510 comprises CS gateway node(s) 512 which caninterface CS traffic received from legacy networks like telephonynetwork(s) 540 (e.g., public switched telephone network (PSTN), orpublic land mobile network (PLMN)) or a signaling system #7 (SS7)network 560. CS gateway node(s) 512 can authorize and authenticatetraffic (e.g., voice) arising from such networks. Additionally, CSgateway node(s) 512 can access mobility, or roaming, data generatedthrough SS7 network 560; for instance, mobility data stored in a visitedlocation register (VLR), which can reside in memory 530. Moreover, CSgateway node(s) 512 interfaces CS-based traffic and signaling and PSgateway node(s) 518. As an example, in a 3GPP UMTS network, CS gatewaynode(s) 512 can be realized at least in part in gateway GPRS supportnode(s) (GGSN). It should be appreciated that functionality and specificoperation of CS gateway node(s) 512, PS gateway node(s) 518, and servingnode(s) 516, is provided and dictated by radio technology(ies) utilizedby mobile network platform 510 for telecommunication over a radio accessnetwork 520 with other devices, such as a radiotelephone 575.

In addition to receiving and processing CS-switched traffic andsignaling, PS gateway node(s) 518 can authorize and authenticatePS-based data sessions with served mobile devices. Data sessions cancomprise traffic, or content(s), exchanged with networks external to themobile network platform 510, like wide area network(s) (WANs) 550,enterprise network(s) 570, and service network(s) 580, which can beembodied in local area network(s) (LANs), can also be interfaced withmobile network platform 510 through PS gateway node(s) 518. It is to benoted that WANs 550 and enterprise network(s) 570 can embody, at leastin part, a service network(s) like IP multimedia subsystem (IMS). Basedon radio technology layer(s) available in technology resource(s) orradio access network 520, PS gateway node(s) 518 can generate packetdata protocol contexts when a data session is established; other datastructures that facilitate routing of packetized data also can begenerated. To that end, in an aspect, PS gateway node(s) 518 cancomprise a tunnel interface (e.g., tunnel termination gateway (TTG) in3GPP UMTS network(s) (not shown)) which can facilitate packetizedcommunication with disparate wireless network(s), such as Wi-Finetworks.

In embodiment 500, mobile network platform 510 also comprises servingnode(s) 516 that, based upon available radio technology layer(s) withintechnology resource(s) in the radio access network 520, convey thevarious packetized flows of data streams received through PS gatewaynode(s) 518. It is to be noted that for technology resource(s) that relyprimarily on CS communication, server node(s) can deliver trafficwithout reliance on PS gateway node(s) 518; for example, server node(s)can embody at least in part a mobile switching center. As an example, ina 3GPP UMTS network, serving node(s) 516 can be embodied in serving GPRSsupport node(s) (SGSN).

For radio technologies that exploit packetized communication, server(s)514 in mobile network platform 510 can execute numerous applicationsthat can generate multiple disparate packetized data streams or flows,and manage (e.g., schedule, queue, format . . . ) such flows. Suchapplication(s) can comprise add-on features to standard services (forexample, provisioning, billing, customer support . . . ) provided bymobile network platform 510. Data streams (e.g., content(s) that arepart of a voice call or data session) can be conveyed to PS gatewaynode(s) 518 for authorization/authentication and initiation of a datasession, and to serving node(s) 516 for communication thereafter. Inaddition to application server, server(s) 514 can comprise utilityserver(s), a utility server can comprise a provisioning server, anoperations and maintenance server, a security server that can implementat least in part a certificate authority and firewalls as well as othersecurity mechanisms, and the like. In an aspect, security server(s)secure communication served through mobile network platform 510 toensure network's operation and data integrity in addition toauthorization and authentication procedures that CS gateway node(s) 512and PS gateway node(s) 518 can enact. Moreover, provisioning server(s)can provision services from external network(s) like networks operatedby a disparate service provider; for instance, WAN 550 or GlobalPositioning System (GPS) network(s) (not shown). Provisioning server(s)can also provision coverage through networks associated to mobilenetwork platform 510 (e.g., deployed and operated by the same serviceprovider), such as distributed antennas networks that enhance wirelessservice coverage by providing more network coverage.

It is to be noted that server(s) 514 can comprise one or more processorsconfigured to confer at least in part the functionality of mobilenetwork platform 510. To that end, the one or more processor can executecode instructions stored in memory 530, for example. It is should beappreciated that server(s) 514 can comprise a content manager, whichoperates in substantially the same manner as described hereinbefore.

In example embodiment 500, memory 530 can store information related tooperation of mobile network platform 510. Other operational informationcan comprise provisioning information of mobile devices served throughmobile network platform 510, subscriber databases; applicationintelligence, pricing schemes, e.g., promotional rates, flat-rateprograms, couponing campaigns; technical specification(s) consistentwith telecommunication protocols for operation of disparate radio, orwireless, technology layers; and so forth. Memory 530 can also storeinformation from at least one of telephony network(s) 540, WAN 550, SS7network 560, or enterprise network(s) 570. In an aspect, memory 530 canbe, for example, accessed as part of a data store component or as aremotely connected memory store.

In order to provide a context for the various aspects of the disclosedsubject matter, FIG. 7, and the following discussion, are intended toprovide a brief, general description of a suitable environment in whichthe various aspects of the disclosed subject matter can be implemented.While the subject matter has been described above in the general contextof computer-executable instructions of a computer program that runs on acomputer and/or computers, those skilled in the art will recognize thatthe disclosed subject matter also can be implemented in combination withother program modules. Generally, program modules comprise routines,programs, components, data structures, etc. that perform particulartasks and/or implement particular abstract data types.

Turning now to FIG. 8, an illustrative embodiment of a communicationdevice 600 is shown. The communication device 600 can serve as anillustrative embodiment of devices such as data terminals 114, mobiledevices 124, vehicle 126, display devices 144 or other client devicesfor communication via either communications network 125. For example,computing device 600 can facilitate in whole or in part providingcustomized content to users as described herein.

The communication device 600 can comprise a wireline and/or wirelesstransceiver 602 (herein transceiver 602), a user interface (UI) 604, apower supply 614, a location receiver 616, a motion sensor 618, anorientation sensor 620, and a controller 606 for managing operationsthereof. The transceiver 602 can support short-range or long-rangewireless access technologies such as Bluetooth®, ZigBee®, WiFi, DECT, orcellular communication technologies, just to mention a few (Bluetooth®and ZigBee® are trademarks registered by the Bluetooth® Special InterestGroup and the ZigBee® Alliance, respectively). Cellular technologies caninclude, for example, CDMA-1×, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO,WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other next generation wireless communicationtechnologies as they arise. The transceiver 602 can also be adapted tosupport circuit-switched wireline access technologies (such as PSTN),packet-switched wireline access technologies (such as TCP/IP, VoIP,etc.), and combinations thereof.

The UI 604 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 608 witha navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse, or anavigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device600. The keypad 608 can be an integral part of a housing assembly of thecommunication device 600 or an independent device operably coupledthereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or awireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth®. The keypad 608 canrepresent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a QWERTYkeypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 604 can further include a display610 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED(Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology forconveying images to an end user of the communication device 600. In anembodiment where the display 610 is touch-sensitive, a portion or all ofthe keypad 608 can be presented by way of the display 610 withnavigation features.

The display 610 can use touch screen technology to also serve as a userinterface for detecting user input. As a touch screen display, thecommunication device 600 can be adapted to present a user interfacehaving graphical user interface (GUI) elements that can be selected by auser with a touch of a finger. The display 610 can be equipped withcapacitive, resistive or other forms of sensing technology to detect howmuch surface area of a user's finger has been placed on a portion of thetouch screen display. This sensing information can be used to controlthe manipulation of the GUI elements or other functions of the userinterface. The display 610 can be an integral part of the housingassembly of the communication device 600 or an independent devicecommunicatively coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface (suchas a cable) or a wireless interface.

The UI 604 can also include an audio system 612 that utilizes audiotechnology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heard inproximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such as speakerphonefor hands free operation). The audio system 612 can further include amicrophone for receiving audible signals of an end user. The audiosystem 612 can also be used for voice recognition applications. The UI604 can further include an image sensor 613 such as a charged coupleddevice (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images.

The power supply 614 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulationtechnologies, and/or charging system technologies for supplying energyto the components of the communication device 600 to facilitatelong-range or short-range portable communications. Alternatively, or incombination, the charging system can utilize external power sources suchas DC power supplied over a physical interface such as a USB port orother suitable tethering technologies.

The location receiver 616 can utilize location technology such as aglobal positioning system (GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS foridentifying a location of the communication device 600 based on signalsgenerated by a constellation of GPS satellites, which can be used forfacilitating location services such as navigation. The motion sensor 618can utilize motion sensing technology such as an accelerometer, agyroscope, or other suitable motion sensing technology to detect motionof the communication device 600 in three-dimensional space. Theorientation sensor 620 can utilize orientation sensing technology suchas a magnetometer to detect the orientation of the communication device600 (north, south, west, and east, as well as combined orientations indegrees, minutes, or other suitable orientation metrics).

The communication device 600 can use the transceiver 602 to alsodetermine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth®, or other wirelessaccess points by sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signalstrength indicator (RSSI) and/or signal time of arrival (TOA) or time offlight (TOF) measurements. The controller 606 can utilize computingtechnologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP),programmable gate arrays, application specific integrated circuits,and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such as Flash,ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies for executingcomputer instructions, controlling, and processing data supplied by theaforementioned components of the communication device 600.

Other components not shown in FIG. 8 can be used in one or moreembodiments of the subject disclosure. For instance, the communicationdevice 600 can include a slot for adding or removing an identity modulesuch as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card or Universal IntegratedCircuit Card (UICC). SIM or UICC cards can be used for identifyingsubscriber services, executing programs, storing subscriber data, and soon.

The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and so forth, as used in theclaims, unless otherwise clear by context, is for clarity only anddoesn't otherwise indicate or imply any order in time. For instance, “afirst determination,” “a second determination,” and “a thirddetermination,” does not indicate or imply that the first determinationis to be made before the second determination, or vice versa, etc.

In the subject specification, terms such as “store,” “storage,” “datastore,” data storage,” “database,” and substantially any otherinformation storage component relevant to operation and functionality ofa component, refer to “memory components,” or entities embodied in a“memory” or components comprising the memory. It will be appreciatedthat the memory components described herein can be either volatilememory or nonvolatile memory, or can comprise both volatile andnonvolatile memory, by way of illustration, and not limitation, volatilememory, non-volatile memory, disk storage, and memory storage. Further,nonvolatile memory can be included in read only memory (ROM),programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM),electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory cancomprise random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cachememory. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM is available inmany forms such as synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM),synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhancedSDRAM (ESDRAM), Synclink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM).Additionally, the disclosed memory components of systems or methodsherein are intended to comprise, without being limited to comprising,these and any other suitable types of memory.

Moreover, it will be noted that the disclosed subject matter can bepracticed with other computer system configurations, comprisingsingle-processor or multiprocessor computer systems, mini-computingdevices, mainframe computers, as well as personal computers, hand-heldcomputing devices (e.g., PDA, phone, smartphone, watch, tabletcomputers, netbook computers, etc.), microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer or industrial electronics, and the like. Theillustrated aspects can also be practiced in distributed computingenvironments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices thatare linked through a communications network; however, some if not allaspects of the subject disclosure can be practiced on stand-alonecomputers. In a distributed computing environment, program modules canbe located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

In one or more embodiments, information regarding use of services can begenerated including services being accessed, media consumption history,user preferences, and so forth. This information can be obtained byvarious methods including user input, detecting types of communications(e.g., video content vs. audio content), analysis of content streams,sampling, and so forth. The generating, obtaining and/or monitoring ofthis information can be responsive to an authorization provided by theuser. In one or more embodiments, an analysis of data can be subject toauthorization from user(s) associated with the data, such as an opt-in,an opt-out, acknowledgement requirements, notifications, selectiveauthorization based on types of data, and so forth.

Some of the embodiments described herein can also employ artificialintelligence (AI) to facilitate automating one or more featuresdescribed herein. The embodiments (e.g., in connection withautomatically identifying acquired cell sites that provide a maximumvalue/benefit after addition to an existing communication network) canemploy various AI-based schemes for carrying out various embodimentsthereof. Moreover, the classifier can be employed to determine a rankingor priority of each cell site of the acquired network. A classifier is afunction that maps an input attribute vector, x=(x1, x2, x3, x4, . . . ,xn), to a confidence that the input belongs to a class, that is,f(x)=confidence (class). Such classification can employ a probabilisticand/or statistical-based analysis (e.g., factoring into the analysisutilities and costs) to determine or infer an action that a user desiresto be automatically performed. A support vector machine (SVM) is anexample of a classifier that can be employed. The SVM operates byfinding a hypersurface in the space of possible inputs, which thehypersurface attempts to split the triggering criteria from thenon-triggering events. Intuitively, this makes the classificationcorrect for testing data that is near, but not identical to trainingdata. Other directed and undirected model classification approachescomprise, e.g., naïve Bayes, Bayesian networks, decision trees, neuralnetworks, fuzzy logic models, and probabilistic classification modelsproviding different patterns of independence can be employed.Classification as used herein also is inclusive of statisticalregression that is utilized to develop models of priority.

As will be readily appreciated, one or more of the embodiments canemploy classifiers that are explicitly trained (e.g., via a generictraining data) as well as implicitly trained (e.g., via observing UEbehavior, operator preferences, historical information, receivingextrinsic information). For example, SVMs can be configured via alearning or training phase within a classifier constructor and featureselection module. Thus, the classifier(s) can be used to automaticallylearn and perform a number of functions, including but not limited todetermining according to predetermined criteria which of the acquiredcell sites will benefit a maximum number of subscribers and/or which ofthe acquired cell sites will add minimum value to the existingcommunication network coverage, etc.

As used in some contexts in this application, in some embodiments, theterms “component,” “system” and the like are intended to refer to, orcomprise, a computer-related entity or an entity related to anoperational apparatus with one or more specific functionalities, whereinthe entity can be either hardware, a combination of hardware andsoftware, software, or software in execution. As an example, a componentmay be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, aprocessor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution,computer-executable instructions, a program, and/or a computer. By wayof illustration and not limitation, both an application running on aserver and the server can be a component. One or more components mayreside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component maybe localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or morecomputers. In addition, these components can execute from variouscomputer readable media having various data structures stored thereon.The components may communicate via local and/or remote processes such asin accordance with a signal having one or more data packets (e.g., datafrom one component interacting with another component in a local system,distributed system, and/or across a network such as the Internet withother systems via the signal). As another example, a component can be anapparatus with specific functionality provided by mechanical partsoperated by electric or electronic circuitry, which is operated by asoftware or firmware application executed by a processor, wherein theprocessor can be internal or external to the apparatus and executes atleast a part of the software or firmware application. As yet anotherexample, a component can be an apparatus that provides specificfunctionality through electronic components without mechanical parts,the electronic components can comprise a processor therein to executesoftware or firmware that confers at least in part the functionality ofthe electronic components. While various components have beenillustrated as separate components, it will be appreciated that multiplecomponents can be implemented as a single component, or a singlecomponent can be implemented as multiple components, without departingfrom example embodiments.

Further, the various embodiments can be implemented as a method,apparatus or article of manufacture using standard programming and/orengineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware or anycombination thereof to control a computer to implement the disclosedsubject matter. The term “article of manufacture” as used herein isintended to encompass a computer program accessible from anycomputer-readable device or computer-readable storage/communicationsmedia. For example, computer readable storage media can include, but arenot limited to, magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk,magnetic strips), optical disks (e.g., compact disk (CD), digitalversatile disk (DVD)), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g.,card, stick, key drive). Of course, those skilled in the art willrecognize many modifications can be made to this configuration withoutdeparting from the scope or spirit of the various embodiments.

In addition, the words “example” and “exemplary” are used herein to meanserving as an instance or illustration. Any embodiment or designdescribed herein as “example” or “exemplary” is not necessarily to beconstrued as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments ordesigns. Rather, use of the word example or exemplary is intended topresent concepts in a concrete fashion. As used in this application, theterm “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive“or”. That is, unless specified otherwise or clear from context, “Xemploys A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusivepermutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both Aand B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoinginstances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in thisapplication and the appended claims should generally be construed tomean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context tobe directed to a singular form.

Moreover, terms such as “user equipment,” “mobile station,” “mobile,”subscriber station,” “access terminal,” “terminal,” “handset,” “mobiledevice” (and/or terms representing similar terminology) can refer to awireless device utilized by a subscriber or user of a wirelesscommunication service to receive or convey data, control, voice, video,sound, gaming or substantially any data-stream or signaling-stream. Theforegoing terms are utilized interchangeably herein and with referenceto the related drawings.

Furthermore, the terms “user,” “subscriber,” “customer,” “consumer” andthe like are employed interchangeably throughout, unless contextwarrants particular distinctions among the terms. It should beappreciated that such terms can refer to human entities or automatedcomponents supported through artificial intelligence (e.g., a capacityto make inference based, at least, on complex mathematical formalisms),which can provide simulated vision, sound recognition and so forth.

As employed herein, the term “processor” can refer to substantially anycomputing processing unit or device comprising, but not limited tocomprising, single-core processors; single-processors with softwaremultithread execution capability; multi-core processors; multi-coreprocessors with software multithread execution capability; multi-coreprocessors with hardware multithread technology; parallel platforms; andparallel platforms with distributed shared memory. Additionally, aprocessor can refer to an integrated circuit, an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic controller (PLC), acomplex programmable logic device (CPLD), a discrete gate or transistorlogic, discrete hardware components or any combination thereof designedto perform the functions described herein. Processors can exploitnano-scale architectures such as, but not limited to, molecular andquantum-dot based transistors, switches and gates, in order to optimizespace usage or enhance performance of user equipment. A processor canalso be implemented as a combination of computing processing units.

As used herein, terms such as “data storage,” data storage,” “database,”and substantially any other information storage component relevant tooperation and functionality of a component, refer to “memorycomponents,” or entities embodied in a “memory” or components comprisingthe memory. It will be appreciated that the memory components orcomputer-readable storage media, described herein can be either volatilememory or nonvolatile memory or can include both volatile andnonvolatile memory.

What has been described above includes mere examples of variousembodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe everyconceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes ofdescribing these examples, but one of ordinary skill in the art canrecognize that many further combinations and permutations of the presentembodiments are possible. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed and/orclaimed herein are intended to embrace all such alterations,modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes”is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term isintended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as“comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in aclaim.

In addition, a flow diagram may include a “start” and/or “continue”indication. The “start” and “continue” indications reflect that thesteps presented can optionally be incorporated in or otherwise used inconjunction with other routines. In this context, “start” indicates thebeginning of the first step presented and may be preceded by otheractivities not specifically shown. Further, the “continue” indicationreflects that the steps presented may be performed multiple times and/ormay be succeeded by other activities not specifically shown. Further,while a flow diagram indicates a particular ordering of steps, otherorderings are likewise possible provided that the principles ofcausality are maintained.

As may also be used herein, the term(s) “operably coupled to”, “coupledto”, and/or “coupling” includes direct coupling between items and/orindirect coupling between items via one or more intervening items. Suchitems and intervening items include, but are not limited to, junctions,communication paths, components, circuit elements, circuits, functionalblocks, and/or devices. As an example of indirect coupling, a signalconveyed from a first item to a second item may be modified by one ormore intervening items by modifying the form, nature or format ofinformation in a signal, while one or more elements of the informationin the signal are nevertheless conveyed in a manner than can berecognized by the second item. In a further example of indirectcoupling, an action in a first item can cause a reaction on the seconditem, as a result of actions and/or reactions in one or more interveningitems.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement which achieves thesame or similar purpose may be substituted for the embodiments describedor shown by the subject disclosure. The subject disclosure is intendedto cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, can be used in the subject disclosure.For instance, one or more features from one or more embodiments can becombined with one or more features of one or more other embodiments. Inone or more embodiments, features that are positively recited can alsobe negatively recited and excluded from the embodiment with or withoutreplacement by another structural and/or functional feature. The stepsor functions described with respect to the embodiments of the subjectdisclosure can be performed in any order. The steps or functionsdescribed with respect to the embodiments of the subject disclosure canbe performed alone or in combination with other steps or functions ofthe subject disclosure, as well as from other embodiments or from othersteps that have not been described in the subject disclosure. Further,more than or less than all of the features described with respect to anembodiment can also be utilized.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: creating, by a processingsystem having a processor, a plurality of leveraged content items from aplurality of media content items by extracting a plurality of leveragepoints from the plurality of media content items; obtaining, by theprocessing system, user information, wherein the user informationincludes user context; selecting, by the processing system, a selectedcontent item from the plurality of leveraged content items based on theuser information; creating, by the processing system, a custom contentitem by further extracting a subset of the plurality of leverage pointsfrom the selected content item based on the user information; andpresenting, by the processing system, the custom content item to acommunication device corresponding to the user information, wherein theuser context comprises a location of a user, wherein a first number ofthe subset of the plurality of leverage points is used when the user isat home, wherein a second number of the subset of the plurality ofleverage points is used when the user is away from home, and wherein thesecond number is different from the first number.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein the plurality of leverage points are identified as points ofexcitement within each media content item based on previous use of atleast portions of the media content items.
 3. The method of claim 2,further comprising: monitoring, by the processing system, a consumptionof the user of the custom content item; and revising, by the processingsystem, the leveraged content item of the plurality of leveraged contentitems corresponding to the selected content item based on theconsumption of the user of the custom content item.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of media content items comprise sportingevents and wherein the plurality of leverage points are identified aspoints within each sporting event that impacts an outcome of thesporting event.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofleverage points are identified as points within each media content itembased on feedback from previous viewers of the media content items. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein the first number is greater than thesecond number, such that the custom content item is longer when the useris at home versus when the user is away from home.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the user context comprises the communication device. 8.The method of claim 7, wherein a third number of the subset of theplurality of leverage points is used when the communication device ismobile, wherein a fourth number of the subset of the plurality ofleverage points is used when the communication device is not mobile, andwherein the third number is less than the fourth number, such that thecustom content item is shorter when the communication device is mobileversus when the communication device is not mobile.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the user context comprises an activity of the user. 10.The method of claim 9, wherein a third number of the subset of theplurality of leverage points is used when the user is moving, wherein afourth number of the subset of the plurality of leverage points is usedwhen the user is stationary, and wherein the third number is less thanthe fourth number, such that the custom content item is shorter when theuser is moving versus when the user is stationary.
 11. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the selecting the selected content item is based oninput from the user.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:providing, by the processing system to the communication device, a groupof the plurality of leveraged content items, the group being chosenbased on the user information; and receiving, by the processing systemfrom the communication device, the input.
 13. A system comprising: aprocessor; and a memory storing executable instructions that, whenexecuted by the processor, perform operations comprising: obtaining userinformation related to a user, wherein the user information comprisesuser context; creating a plurality of leveraged content items byextracting a plurality of leverage points from a plurality of mediacontent items according to the user information; selecting a subset ofthe plurality of leveraged content items based on the user information;presenting, to a communication device associated with the user, anidentification of the subset of the plurality of leveraged contentitems; receiving, from the communication device, an indication of aselected content item of the subset of the plurality of leveragedcontent items; creating a custom content item by further extracting asubset of the plurality of leverage points from the selected contentitem based on the user information; and presenting the custom contentitem to the communication device, wherein the user context comprises alocation of the user, wherein a first number of the subset of theplurality of leverage points is used when the user is at home, wherein asecond number of the subset of the plurality of leverage points is usedwhen the user is away from home, and wherein the second number isdifferent from the first number.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein theplurality of leverage points are identified as points of excitementwithin each media content item based on previous use of at leastportions of the media content items.
 15. The system of claim 14, theoperations further comprising: monitoring a consumption of the user ofthe custom content item; revising the user information based on theconsumption of the user of the custom content item; and revising theleveraged content item of the plurality of leveraged content itemscorresponding to the selected content item based on the consumption ofthe user of the custom content item.
 16. The system of claim 13, whereineach leveraged content item of the plurality of leveraged content itemscorresponds to one of the plurality of media content items and whereinthe user context comprises the communication device and an activity ofthe user.
 17. A non-transitory machine-readable storage mediumcomprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processingsystem including a processor, perform operations comprising: obtaininguser information related to a user, wherein the user informationcomprises user context; creating a plurality of leveraged content itemsby extracting a plurality of leverage points from a plurality of mediacontent items, wherein each leveraged content item of the plurality ofleveraged content items corresponds to one of the plurality of mediacontent items; selecting a subset of the plurality of leveraged contentitems based on the user information; presenting, to a communicationdevice, an identification of the subset of the plurality of leveragedcontent items; receiving, from the communication device, an indicationof a selected content item of the subset of the plurality of leveragedcontent items; creating a custom content item by further extracting asubset of the plurality of leverage points from the selected contentitem based on the user information; and presenting the custom contentitem to the communication device, wherein the user context comprises alocation of the user, wherein a first number of the subset of theplurality of leverage points is used when the user is at home, wherein asecond number of the subset of the plurality of leverage points is usedwhen the user is away from home, and wherein the second number isdifferent from the first number.
 18. The non-transitory machine-readablestorage medium of claim 17, wherein the plurality of leverage points areidentified as points of excitement within each media content item basedon previous use of at least portions of the media content items.
 19. Thenon-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein theoperations further comprise: monitoring a consumption of the user of thecustom content item; revising the user information based on theconsumption of the user of the custom content item; and revising theleveraged content item of the plurality of leveraged content itemscorresponding to the selected content item based on the consumption ofthe user of the custom content item.
 20. The non-transitorymachine-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the user contextcomprises the communication device, wherein a third number of the subsetof the plurality of leverage points is used when the communicationdevice is mobile, wherein a fourth number of the subset of the pluralityof leverage points is used when the communication device is not mobile,and wherein the third number is less than the fourth number, such thatthe custom content item is shorter when the communication device ismobile versus when the communication device is not mobile.